The Tories have finally come clean about how they would cut public spending by £12bn – to help fund their pledge to curb the rise in National Insurance.

Lo and behold it’s a mish mash of “efficiency savings”, cuts and unspecified “projects” as well as cuts to recruitment.

Advisors to The Financial Times, not renowned for its left leaning views, reckon it could mean 40,000 public jobs lost.

Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said it appeared the Conservatives were “looking to immediately slash employment throughout the public sector”.

Vic D’Albert, Bury South Parliamentary candidate added, “What bothers me most here is that the Tories are treating people like fools. They are making wild promises to cut public spending and lower NI and then they insist people won’t lose there jobs and key services like the NHS and Education won’t suffer.

“Every knows it just doesn’t add up and it doesn’t make sense. On top of which anyone who can remember Thatchers Conservative Government will remember they promised the same and they then proceeded to decimate public services.